Evidence and risk indicators of non-random sampling in clinical trials in implant dentistry: A systematic appraisal.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Analysis of distribution of p-values of continuous differences between test and controls after randomization provides evidence of unintentional error, non-random sampling, or data fabrication in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We assessed evidence of highly unusual distributions of baseline characteristics of subjects enrolled in clinical trials in implant dentistry.

Materials and methods

RCTs published between 2005 and 2020 were systematically searched in Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Baseline patient data were extracted from full text articles by two independent assessors. The hypothesis of non-random sampling was tested by comparing the expected and the observed distribution of the p-values of differences between test and controls after randomization.

SUBMITTER: Shi JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9299163 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature